Mason's Story

Mason joined Watsi on April 7th, 2014. Ten years ago, Mason joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Mason's most recent donation traveled 8,800 miles to support David, a 14-year-old boy from Cambodia, to fund spinal surgery.

Impact

Mason has funded healthcare for 106 patients in 14 countries.

Patients funded by Mason

Lourdez is a mother of three from the Philippines. Currently, her family depends on the income of their second child, who works as a call center agent. Lourdez shared that this income is not enough for the family's expenses and hopes that, after her treatment, she will be able to work and help earn money to support her family. Seven months ago, Lourdez began to experience troubling symptoms, including unbearable stomach pain that lasted for hours. She immediately consulted with a doctor. However, she knows her family cannot afford the cost of surgery, so she had to look for other treatment options. Fortunately, a friend brought her to one of our care centers, where the doctors advised Lourdez to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Lourdez is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on December 13th. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of the cost of the procedure. WSFP is requesting $1,128 to cover the remaining cost of her surgery and care. Lourdez said, "This treatment will be a great help, not just for me but for my family. We have no other means of funding my surgery. As a basic earner, my daughter's income is often not enough for our family's needs and expenses. The free surgery would be a blessing and an opportunity for me to help my daughter earn for the family."

$557raised
$571to go

Devie is a 31-year old woman from the Philippines. She has three children that she loves and supports alongside her partner. In 2018, Devie began to experience troubling symptoms, including discomfort in her neck, shortness of breath, easy fatigability, palpitations, and difficulty swallowing. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, she couldn't seek medical consultation. Due to her condition, she cannot work. As time went on, Devie's condition worsened, and in 2019 she noticed a visible lump on her neck. This made it even more challenging for her to carry out her daily tasks. Devie traveled to Our Lady of Peace Hospital, where she underwent a thorough examination. She was diagnosed with Colloid Adenomatous Goiter, a thyroid gland disorder characterized by the development of multiple nodules or lumps within the thyroid tissue. These nodules are made up of abnormal thyroid cells that form small, fluid-filled sacs called colloid cysts. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Devie receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on July 22nd at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is covering a portion of the cost of Devie's treatment, and WSFP is raising the remaining $935. Devie shared, "I am grateful to Watsi and World Surgical Foundation Philippines because I have been enduring this illness for a long time, waiting for someone to help and for something to happen, and they are my answered prayer. Please never get tired of helping less fortunate people like me."

$935raised
Fully funded

Lawamutwe is a 7-year-old boy from Tanzania and the youngest of five children. His father works as a cattle breeder, and his mother is a dedicated stay-at-home parent. Unfortunately, due to a prolonged drought in the region, Lawamutwe's family has faced significant challenges in the past year. Their cattle have suffered starvation, resulting in losses and reduced financial stability. Lawamutwe and his father arrived at our medical partner's care center, brought by one of their relatives who live in the city. Due to a language barrier, the team brought in a Maasai translator to facilitate effective communication. Lawamutwe's father shared that he traveled over 400 kilometers to reach the care center to find medical care for his son. After a heartfelt welcome from our team, the staff performed a comprehensive medical assessment. They determined that Lawamutwe's orthopedic condition started at the age of three. He has shown signs of bowed legs, which have progressively worsened with time. As a young Maasai boy, grazing livestock is a fundamental part of Lawamutwe's culture, but his limited ability to walk long distances prevents him from engaging with his peers during these activities. Lawamutwe was diagnosed with a condition in which his left leg is bowed outward, and his right leg is bowed inward. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. On June 6th, Lawamutwe will undergo surgery to help restore his mobility, allow him to participate in various activities, and significantly decrease his risk of future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund this procedure. Lawamutwe's father said: "I wish for my son to be able to go and be with his fellow boys. I hope his legs won't be a reason he is always alone."

$880raised
Fully funded

Anastazia is a nine-year-old student from Tanzania. She has seven siblings and lives in the heart of Serengeti, a beautiful area in Tanzania, home to some of the most breathtaking wildlife on the planet. Her father is a small-scale farmer who relies on subsistence agriculture to provide for his family. From a very young age, Anastazia's legs started bowing, making it difficult to walk, run, or play like other children her age. Her parents noticed the problem and did everything they could to find a solution, including visiting local doctors and healers, but nothing worked. Unfortunately, they could not afford to take her to a hospital in the city, which was too far away. As a result, Anastazia was forced to live with her condition and learned to adapt to it. She walks to school with her siblings, but with some difficulty and discomfort. Fortunately, Anastazia was able to reach our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), where she was diagnosed with Acquired bilateral genu varus. Her legs bow outward so that her knees do not touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, often stemming from contaminated drinking water. AMH is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Anastazia. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 17th, and the treatment will hopefully restore Anastazia's mobility. This will allow her to participate in various activities and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Anastazia says, “I wish to be able to walk to school with my siblings without having to endure so much pain.”

$880raised
Fully funded